Smallholder farmers in developing countries face substantial constraints to boosting production—chief among them a lack of financial services. Smallholders often cannot access the credit necessary to invest in new crops or technologies and to provide security in the face of risks and shocks. A 2013 paperfound that in South and Southeast Asia, only 1 percent of smallholders’ credit needs for longer term investments are met. Women, low-income groups, and ethnic minorities may face even larger challenges to meeting their finance needs. Farmers also often lack insuranceneeded to make risky investments that can also boost their production.